Up close and personal at Eisenhower Park

The largest Marine helicopter landing on Long Island was displayed to the public as a part of “Fleet Week 2010” on May 29 at Eisenhower Park. 

The U.S. Marine Corps helicopter squadron made a dramatic landing at Eisenhower Park’s Kite Field as part of a day-long schedule of events.
   
The MV-22 Osprey was among the featured aircrafts. The aircraft features a multi-mission tilt-rotor with both a vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capability. The aircraft is designed to combine the functionality of a helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop.  In addition, the aircraft is up to 21 times less vulnerable to small arms fire and 75 percent quieter than helicopters. The Osprey is the only U.S. tactical transport aircraft designed with radiological, biological, and chemical warfare protection.

   
The Osprey was joined by CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters and AH-1 W Cobras that  have performed area sweeps and transported raid force Marines to the landing zone. Marines also performed an assault demonstration, after which the helicopters were landed and put on display along with the weapons typically used by a Marine Corps. rifle platoon.
   
The Marines that supported the event are part of a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force from Camp Lejeune, N.C.  They have recently returned from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Haiti.
   
The event was held in cooperation with the Nassau County Department of Parks and was free to the public.